Folding stool



S. H. MOWREY FOLDING STOOL.

APPLICATION FILED JULY II. 1919.

Patented Dec. 16,1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Jnren iar S. H. MOWREY.

FOLDING STOOL. APPLICATION FILED JULY 1!. 1919.

w am. Z w mm 6 hf w a a w 6% 0 K M g d n .e w mm a P 2 UNITEDsTAtrEsrATENT OFFICE. v

s MUEL MoWnE-ia'or PHILADELPHIA, PEN SYL ANIA;

Fo'IJDING STOOL. I

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Dec, 16, 1919,

. Application filed July 11, 1919. Serial No. 310,205.

pose of the invention is to produce an a'rti-.

cle of this kind wherein the several elements are separable and may behoused within the seat, the latter being of such constructlon as topresent the appearance of a small suitcase.

The structure includes a collapsible base, a collapsible head, apedestal separably con necting these elements, and a foldable orbox-like seat capable of being mounted on the head.

The invention consists in the detalls of construction more fully setforth below.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of this stool set up ready to use, andFig. 2 is a perspecfolded so that it may be carried in the hand.

Fig. 3 is a central vertical section. Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view ofthe seat distended.

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail on the line 55 of Fig. 3. p I

Fig. 6 is a perspective detail of the upper end of one of the'arms.

Fig. 7 is a sectional detail showing the hinge connection between theleaves of the seat. I I

The base as herein shown comprises four legs 1 pivoted near their upperends at 2 within radial slots 3 in a hub 4 having a cen tral uprightbore 5.

The pedestal includes a body 11 shouldered at its upper and lower endsas at 12, 13 and having pins 14 and 15 extending beyond said shoulders,the pin 15 fitting rotatably within the bore 5 of the hub 4 when theparts are assembled as seen in Fig. 3.

The head in the present instance comprises four arms 21 pivoted at 22within radial slots 23 in a hub 24, the hub having a bore 25 throughwhich may pass the upper pin 14: when the parts are assembled as seen inFig.' 3. The upper end of each arm is cut away along its opposite sidesto produce shoulders 26 between which the material of the arm iscontinued into a tongue 27preferably slightly dove-tailed as seen inFig. 6 and having its upper end 28 cut off o'na line oblique tothelength of the arm as shown.

7 The seat is made up of three leaves con-' nected edge to edge byknuckle joints as shown at 30, and for sake of distinction we will callthe intermediate leafa panel 31 and the other and rather wider leavessides 32 because they form the sides of the casing whenclosed as seen inFig. 2, having flanges 33- around three of their edges which cometogether to make up the box-like whole. A catch 34 fastens the casingclosed, and one side member may carry a handle 35. Centrally pivoted at36 tothe lower face of the 7 panel 31 is an elongated button or bar 37having near its opposite ends grooves 38, and the panel itself isprovided 'in its lower face near its opposite ends with similar grooves.The latter have mouths of a shape similar to key-hole slots, theirlarger ends being disposed toward the pivot 36, and internally they areof a cross section which will fit the shape of the dove-tailed tongues27. The several leaves of the seat'may be painted or ornamentedexternally, or may perhaps carry a fabric or even an upholsteredcovering. The parts are of the desired materials which will affordsuficient strength to support the user.

The stool is shown in Fig. 1 set up ready V for use, and at this timethe hub of the head 7 will swivel within the hub 4 of the base, and

therefore the user is mounted on a pivot stool. \Vhen the device is nolonger desired for use, the pedestal is lifted out of the base and thelegs folded, the 'upperpin of the pedestal pulled out of'the hub 24:,-said hub moved downward to draw the several arms inward and theirtongues 27 downward from the several grooves 38 so that the arms may beall folded together, then the cross bar or long button 37 is turned onits pivot 36 into alinement with the central leaf or panel 31, and theremaining parts stacked in the casing which is closed and latched asshown at 34:. For holding said parts within the casing, one or both thesides 32 thereof may have straps or strip metal springs 40 beneath whichthe movable parts will be inserted. When the operator again desires touse the device as a stool, he unlatches. and opens the casing, removesthe loose parts, turns the buttolr'37' to the position shown in Fig. 4,and reassembles the elementsin al manner which will be clear. pins 141and 15 are shown round, it is. clear that-aswivel efi'ect "wouldresultifonly one were round, but it is muchrcheaperiandjust. as satisfactoryto turn down both ends of the-pedestal 1 into ground 1 pins r and; bore:both hubs with round; holes, as. y it wonld be" to." make one-of the;pins and oneuofethe hioles of oth erashapea. It is preferred that the'arms be four: in number, two? of which; engagegthesocketszinz themiddleleaf :whileethe other; two engage the sockets; in; the cross bar v01? button: and" thelatter; supports the" outer-. leaves-,but it. isnotQatI'a'll essential. that. there; shall g be:- four legs inthG'fibitSQ'z In fact, the base of, the structurei-isucapable; ofextended ,modification without departingfrom the principle involved, andA theexact-1 form of pivotsiin boththe base'and-the hiead-a isimmaterial Alsoxl have shown asetscrew 43in;- Fig 4i and r set,screwsil-i'i and i415 in; Fig, 1 which; mayibe einployed for: hold:ing; the; parts together when assembled, but

these. set; screws, are, omitted-i from r Fig.

Other changes valse may. be: made-by the manufacturer; consistent; with;the claims below.

In closing it' is hardly necessary. to add: that, while ;this.- devicehas. been described. 1

as stool on-; which thez-user. is tea sit,: itmight. readily be utilizedas'-autable,,as on automobile. trips orL pedestrianjhikes; ,or' it couldbe usedas afiower? stand, taboret,vetc-.

Therefore theterms, seat as: .e-1nployed-. hereinsshouldgbe read 2conjunction with the device when used-asia stool.

Having thus described the. invention, what is claimed as new is;

1.; In a coll apsible; structure. of the-type? described, the.combinationwith-a base, a. pedestal, and .headanountedon the pedestaland including. a plurality-v of" pivoted. arms havingitongues i at.their upper; ends of seatv made up of'three leaves hinged to-' getheredge-etc; edge, and crossbar cens trally pivoted beneaththesintermediatesleaf and'of. a length to -underlieth,e others .whenturned on its :pivotacross the several leaves,

said, bar, 7 and intermcdiat'e lea-f; having.

While both sockets shaped to detachably receive the tongues on saidarms.

2; In acollapsible structure of the type described, the combination witha base, a pedestal, and a head mounted on the pedestal and. includin aplurality of pivoted arms h'aving tongues at their upper ends; ofaeseatsincluding a narrow. panel and two wide leaves, knuckle hingesconnecting them, flanges along the onteriedges and: ends: of the;leaves, those on one leafi abuttingz those on: theother when" the seatis folded, and a: barf: adaptecl tor extend across beneath: the. paneland both leaves;- said bar:- and panel havingrsocketsmear: their endsfore detach= ably receivingithe:tongues-onesaid. arms.=.

3. In a knock-down structure ofZthei'type described, thetcombination'with ascollap'sible base: 1 including.*a. tubular; hub; a 1 collapsible.head: ainclu-ding'ai tubularrhub and four: arms pivoted at their lower"ends r thereto, and a. pedestal 3 whose body is.- reduced andshouldered; at: .bothends; and: continued beyond the:- shoulders:intoupper and lower pins; adapted for removable engagement with said?-hubs; ozfa foldiiigrseat of boxelike structure adapteditozcontainathe-rother aielernents when: disconnected and collapsed, theseat having' a;central socket forr the upper end .of? the upper pin and other socketsfor theiupper ends oft-said-.-arrns'.

4:- In wilmockedowni structure of atheatype described, the combinatiorrwith: et -collapsible base-including a a tubular hub, collapsible head.includingta tubular; hub and four armsn pivoted atwtheir lowerrends;thereto, and a pedestal whoseb'ody is reduced and shouldered at bothends" and continued: beyond the; shoulders;- into: upper: and lower pinsadapted for removable engagementi with? said hubs 1; of aseat: made .au-i'Of-three': leaves hinged together edge to edge, the side leaveshavingflanges coaeting; in the folding} of the seat to produce aboxeli'keecasing for receivingthezother elements and a bar-pi-votallymounted on a: screw" countersunk through its center and into theintermediate. leaf; thereby leavin-g a: socket; for receiving theupperendof :the: upperpin, the bar and 5 the intermediate :Ileaf:having; other sockets for the upper ends of said "arms.

Intestimony whereof I a-fiix myzsignature.

SAMUEL H. MOWREY. [L1 s.]

